[quote=Epiphanius][quote=AgiosAnthrwpos][quote=Epiphanius](Also, it's no secret that Vatican II changed a number of non-dogmatic teachings, notably Religious Liberty and Ecumenism.)[/quote]
While you call these "non-dogmatic teachings" these changes actually did great violence to the Catholic understanding of Tradition. After proclaiming the Roman Church to be the "one true Church" for hundreds of years, the document on Religious Liberty effectively denied that dogmatic teaching. It placed Catholicism in particular, and Christianity as a whole, on a par with all the other religious systems of the world. The new teachings on Religious Liberty and Ecumenism further changed the long held Roman position that there is no salvation outside the Church (understood to be the Roman Church.) This effectively reduced Christianity to just one among many, which effectively eliminates the need for evangelism including Christ's "Great Commission." I would certainly think that this qualifies those changes to be described as "another gospel" (Galatians 1:8).
Prior to Vatican II ecumenism was defined as evangelism. The Church taught that there was no "religious liberty" and that man did not have the right to choose error over truth. The only ecumenism the Roman Church practiced was preaching the Gospel and inviting people to join the "one true Church." After these changes evangelism is now defined as proselytism and is rejected, allowing such things as John Paul II's [i][/i]World Day of Prayer[i][/i] in Assisi in which pagan priests practiced their rites upon Catholic altars.
[quote=AgiosAnthrwpos]... Most Catholics, including clergy, act as though the Church began in the 1960s.[/quote]
While I agree with the sentiments you express here, I would caution against making such broad accusations ("[b]Most[/b] Catholics," etc.), as they are difficult to substantiate and contribute more to "vain disputations" than to real discussion.
Peace,
Deacon Richard [/quote]
I understand and appreciate your reluctance about using broad statements about groups of people. However, having taught RC RCIA and Adult Religious Education classes for many years I have had the opportunity to talk with many, many people in the Catholic Church including bishops, priests and deacons. And there really does seem to be a prevailing attitude that the Church we have today is something new and has little if any affinity with the 2,000 year history of the Church. There is very little knowledge of Church history among the general laity and most of the clergy with whom I have spoken seem genuinely pleased that the RCC has separated itself from her history and traditions.
